History of MSC Cruises in Timeline

MSC Cruises, founded in 1988 and headquartered in Geneva, is a Swiss-Italian global cruise line and part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). As the world's largest privately held cruise company, it employs around 23,500 people globally with offices in 45 countries (as of 2017). MSC Cruises ranks as the third-largest cruise company worldwide, holding a 10.2% share of all passengers carried in 2021, trailing behind Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group.

1988: Acquisition of Achille Lauro

In 1988, Gianluigi Aponte entered the cruise industry by purchasing the Achille Lauro and establishing StarLauro Cruises, honoring Achille Lauro in the company name.

1988: MSC Cruises Founded

In 1988, MSC Cruises was founded in Naples, Italy, as part of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

1990: Purchase of the Monterey

In 1990, Mediterranean Shipping Co. acquired the Monterey for StarLauro Cruises, retaining its original name.

November 1994: Achille Lauro Fire

In November 1994, the Achille Lauro caught fire off the coast of Somalia while en route to South Africa, resulting in the death of two people during the evacuation of 979 passengers and crew.

1995: Rebranding to MSC Cruises

In 1995, StarLauro Cruises was rebranded as MSC Cruises, changing the livery to a white funnel with the MSC logo.

1997: Purchase of the Atlantic

In 1997, MSC purchased the Atlantic from Premier Cruise Lines and renamed the ship Melody.

2003: Debut of MSC Lirica

In 2003, MSC's first new build, the MSC Lirica, debuted and was christened by Sophia Loren.

2004: Acquisition of European Vision and European Stars

In 2004, MSC Cruises acquired the European Vision and European Stars from Festival Cruises, renaming them MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia.

2004: Launch of MSC Opera

In 2004, the MSC Opera, sister ship to the Lirica, was launched.

2006: Debut of MSC Musica

In 2006, the first of the four Musica Class ships, the MSC Musica, debuted.

2010: Launch of MSC Magnifica

In 2010, the final and slightly modified Musica Class ship, the MSC Magnifica, was launched.

December 2015: Lease of Ocean Cay in the Bahamas

In December 2015, MSC Cruises signed a 100-year lease for the private island of Ocean Cay in the Bahamas to develop it into an exclusive island experience, committing $200 million to the project.

2015: Renaissance Programme Renovation

In 2015, MSC Cruises announced the completion of renovation for the four Mistral class ships, under the Renaissance Programme.

2017: MSC Cruises' Global Presence

As of 2017, MSC Cruises employed approximately 23,500 individuals worldwide, maintaining offices across 45 countries.

July 2018: Announcement of Second Cruise Terminal at PortMiami

In July 2018, the company announced plans to construct a second cruise terminal at PortMiami for its World-class cruise ships, as part of its North American expansion plan.

October 2018: Order for Four Luxury Ships

In October 2018, MSC announced an order for four luxury ships, each with a gross tonnage of 64,000, based on the MSC Yacht Club luxury concept.

January 2019: Unveiling of Virtual Personal Cruise Assistant ZOE

In January 2019, MSC Cruises introduced ZOE, the world's first virtual personal cruise assistant, an AI device designed by Harman International.

November 2019: Original Opening Date for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

The Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve was originally set to open in mid-November 2019, but was delayed due to weather.

December 2019: Official Opening of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

On 5 December 2019, the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve officially opened after weather delays.

2020: Suspension of Operations due to COVID-19

In mid-2020, MSC Cruises suspended most or all operations for over six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

January 2021: Restart of Cruises in the Mediterranean

On 7 January 2021, MSC announced the restart of cruises in the Mediterranean with the MSC Grandiosa and MSC Magnifica, initially limited to residents of the Schengen Area.

June 2021: Announcement of Explora Journeys

In June 2021, MSC announced a new luxury subsidiary brand named Explora Journeys, with plans for four vessels, beginning with the Explora I.

2021: MSC Cruises Market Share

In 2021, MSC Cruises held a 10.2% share of all passengers carried, positioning it as the third-largest cruise company globally.

March 2022: Partnership with Formula One

In March 2022, MSC Cruises signed a multi-year deal with Formula One to become their official cruise partner.

October 2022: Scheduled Completion of PortMiami Cruise Terminal

In October 2022, the second cruise terminal at PortMiami for MSC Cruises was scheduled to be completed.

January 2023: Partnership with the New York Knicks

In January 2023, MSC Cruises announced a new multi-year partnership agreement with the New York Knicks for in-game promotion.

2023: Title Sponsor of the Belgian Grand Prix

In 2023, MSC was the title sponsor of the Belgian Grand Prix.

August 2024: Rumors of a New Class of Ships

In August 2024, rumors surfaced that MSC was in talks with Meyer Turku to build a class of four ships with a gross tonnage of 270,000, potentially making them the largest cruise ships at the time.